THE NATURAL STONE EXPERTS FROM CALANCA VALLEY
From Nature to Swiss Made – according to this motto, Polti SA from Arvigo GR sums up its philosophy: the natural stone from the 3rd generation family business preserves its character, from the processing site to the end product, reflecting typical Swiss values such as quality, tradition and commitment to the region. This authenticity is probably the reason why 90% of Calanca Gneiss is in demand by the Swiss market.
Calanca Gneiss is a charismatic stone that was quarried in the Calanca Valley as early as the 19th century. Today, the frost-resistant gneiss is refined in Arvigo on the premises of Alfredo Polti SA already in the third generation to Calanca Gneiss Made in Switzerland.
Family business in the 3rd generation relies on ISO quality
After the impressive quarrying process in the quarry, the massive raw blocks are brought to the factory premises with heavy machinery and then processed in several steps in the factory halls, either manually or with state-of-the-art milling technology, to produce table and floor slabs, wall stones, well troughs or wall elements. Both during quarrying and in production, safety and compliance with quality standards have top priority. Polti SA has been ISO 9001 certified since 2007 and is synonymous with top performance in all processes. In order to guarantee this high standard in the future, Polti SA continuously invests in new machinery and equipment as well as in the training and further education of its employees. Polti SA is a guarantee for Swiss quality.
Sustainability set in stone
Protecting the environment has always been a major concern for Polti SA. The eco-balance has been continuously improved in the company since 2012, but sustainability has always been a top priority. For example, fine dust pollution has been significantly reduced by optimizing transport logistics. In 2021, the company also received a certificate from the Nature & Economy Foundation for the near-natural design of the Cava Arvigo quarry site. Because of its excellent eco-balance and due to the many possible applications in modern architectural projects, the stone is tailor-made to meet the high demands of Swiss architects as well as garden and landscape architects. “We don’t just talk about sustainability here, but rather we have been living it for three generations,” says Managing Director Giovanni Polti.
Commitment for the region
With the quarrying and processing of Calanca gneiss, Polti SA provides jobs in one of the most remote valleys in Switzerland. Because the company is deeply rooted in the region, job seekers from the region are given preference whenever possible. And as the largest employer in the valley, Polti SA is also committed to social cohesion by actively promoting activities and associations in the valley. “From Nature to Swiss Made” fits perfectly with the valley and with this natural stone manufactory. No wonder, Calanca Gneiss is highly prized by Swiss architects and builders.